No mercy... Of course there will be no mercy. There shall only be death... Szmierc's body dissolved into a vortex of shadowy wisps, leaving only the brief image of his haunting smile. Death shall reign. A shadowy portal materialized behind the first oracle. Four daggers flew out, followed by Szmierc with two more blades dancing towards her heart.
Tsubael shrugged off her burning robes and used them to provide some minimal defense against the chilling wave of frozen merc eather. Her scythe absorbed a small portion of the attack, but she still bore the brunt of its damage. Her gears clicked noisily as the icy blast threatened to freeze them solid. When it passed, she was still alive and relatively undamaged, though her joints felt stiff and sluggish. Boiler output reduced 20%. Motive output reduced 32%. Core temperature down 21%. Well, she could fix that easily enough. War emergenncy power protocols activate. Tsubael released a hiss of steam and broken chunks of ice tumbled out from between the plates of her metal skin. The rest was instantly melted. This was only a temporary solution, but temporary was all she needed. She began to charge toward the nearest Oracle, with her scythe leading the way. What she lacked in speed and agility, she could more than make up for in a stubborn refusal to quit. She would keep coming until they turned her to scrap.
Daggers hit the first Oracle as she weaved, and the massive ferral lunged from his portal! he reached for her chest! Cleansing waters activated and waves of eather washed over them, the second blocked Szmierc claws with her staff and landed a blow on his head . Then Oracle, sensing Tusbeal approach, cast another prism shield, but as she weaved Hiddan flashed in thrusting his blade at her. It hit biting into her flesh, but she showed no signs of pain, like a machine she merely reacted blasting Hiddan back with an arc of lighting. Tusbeal swung at the first Oracle who was quickly loosing health, the oracle parried with her own staff and the two began to exchange strikes. with her speed the Oracle evaded strike after strike and landed a hit on Tusbeals leg, the blow knocked her to one knee, another strike, this time towards the robots chest. Tusbeal swung her sycthe and though The oracle dodged again she followed up with a twirl striking with the other end of her weapon the blow struck the oracles belly. though slower Tusbeal strength dealt damage winding the Oracle causing her to stagger . The third Oracle cast flash warp! and the three appeared on the other side of the field, the first oracle badly wounded and bleeding greatly rose in the air leading the otehrs, together they combined their eather and summoned three powerful beams that fell from the sky, landing in the middle of the battle field! the winded winded everyone (save Tusbeal) and caused them to stagger. In this moment the Oracles wasted no time weaving another one, the three circling in unison!
I got up after a little bit, finally catching my breath. "...Ready to die?" I asked simply, blood was pouring from my wounds, though, I didn't seem to mind, I took to the air once more and flew around them once more as fast as I possibly could and unleashing four beams of Althea energy, and four of Nox energy, leaving four beams each on my back at the three, aiming at the first oracle with four of the eight beams, taking one off would make the battle simpler and I HAD to end this battle quickly, I wasn't going to allow that over sized flying cat get away and hurt Shari, there was no way in hell that I would let her get the power of a God Speaker!
Shari's wings beat the air as she flew out of danger from the combined attack. Her hands flew as she weaved Root Wrap. Dry, dead, but sturdy roots sprung out of the ground and sped through the air towards the bleeding oracle in attempt to catch her and pull her back to the earth. If the attack worked, she follow up with her sword.
The first oracle flew and ducked around the first beam, then the second, twirling in the air she nearly kissed the third, but met with the forth, mid air the blast shook the ground, one oracle crashed sliding to a stand still, a massive eather scar to her chest. Joes other beams collided with earth and spell shield as the other oracles displayed their impressive speed. but, by chance two beams bounced off the barrier, one collided with the third oracle! The other was stopped by the second oracle, she cast whirling shield and through the attack back at Joe! Aly's vine grabbed hold of the second Oracle and pulled her down, but not before she loosed a bolt at the fairy. The third weaved and cast razor winds, hurling blades of air that slashed at every angle streaming towards them. Hiddan looked on towards the sky, Zafara was fast disappearing, there was no way they could defeat the remaining two in time. "That's right, they aren't trying to win. They just want to bide time." He looked at the barrier erected in front of them, maybe the didn't have to win? All that was needed was this barrier to go down. He looked over to the defeated Oracle, "all three of them made the spell, then at two it's a third of the power." "Listen, I'll keep them busy, attack the barrier all we need to do is destroy it! if we can kill one more it will be that much easier!" He flashed in slashing wildly at them. his blade drew blood, but for every blow Hiddan landed he was struck equally as hard. leaping into the air he spread his cape revealing all his hidden blades. "I'll show you the meaning of my name!" and a shower of silver rained down on the remaining Oracles. his signature move, his claim to fame, rain of blades! ...... In the distance Zafara was cruising satisfied with her self. she looked down at the landscape savoring her victory. Then the old man showed up. "Zafara." The sphinx grinned dropping Shari on the ground. "Then it is time? heh, heh very well." A storm engulfed them, lightning flashed, but what was happening behind the howling winds none could know.
I merely smiled as the beam flew back at me, the reddish-orange barrier appeared around me once more, as the beam collided with the barrier, it lost half of its power and continued to bounce off of the barrier as it tried to strike me over and over again until it was just a tiny needle of althea energy, each time that it had struck the barrier it lost half of its energy, now it was basically the equivalent of a needle going through one's skin, I knew that the barrier would only send althea and nox spells back at the caster, so unfortunately I couldn't send it straight back at the oracle, I finally dropped the barrier and winced as a very tiny explosion of althea energy hit my cheek, a thin trail of blood flowed down my cheek from the resulting wound, two beams each were now keeping me airborne. "Let's see... if we kill these fools then we won't have any chance of them attacking us while we're gone, but that'll mean more time will be wasted, thus incurring Shari's death or loss of power, which will go to Zafara, or more likely, Jeremiah, who is likely the puppet master, Zafara is a fool that is far too short sighted and an ego that surpasses even the highest of deities, she wouldn't think for a second that she would be used in order for someone else to gain power and consequently overthrow her." I thought, part of me wanted to see the look of disbelief on her face when she realized how she had been fooled by a mere mortal, but I knew the resulting consequences were something that I could not let happen... there was only one option... I landed on the ground and merely smiled at the Oracles, I raised my arm and pointed at them... at that same moment... the four beams of energy, two althea, two nox flew from my back, arcing through the air, flying around the two oracles rapidly in a beautiful and deadly display. "As black and shadow tie together into darkness, make one's life into nothingness." I chanted, I repeated it five times quickly, the pages in my book fluttered rapidly, I fired out three balls of nox energy, the three surrounding them, beneath the two oracles were what looked to be two large pitch black holes. "Deal with the barrier as fast as you can, I'll hold these two off as long as I can!" I said, my althea and nox beams had reflected off of the barrier, so I had a feeling that the barrier reflected magic of all kind, I would be completely useless if only physical attacks would work against the barrier, all I had was my magic, the oracles had two options, be torn apart by the tendrils of darkness that would undoubtedly spring forth from the balls of darkness and the holes beneath them, or be turned into bloody craters by the beams above, all at once, hell broke out, the tendrils exploded from the balls, trying to hit the oracles and tear them apart, beneath the two tendrils stretched up, trying to dig into them and tear them in two, the four beams above flew toward them, two in the front, two in the back, each not caring which it would hit, as long as it connected with one of the oracles.
A false betrayal The second oracle vanished, a warping spell brought it out of range the other was not so lucky her magic guard destroyed by the over powering attack. She fell to the ground defeated. Hiddan seized his chance flashing in, but instead of attacking the oracle he swung his blade at one of Joe’s orbs! It crashed into another and the two collided with the spell shield which quivered under stress, then shattered! The last Oracle got ready to make it’s final stand, but then suddenly it looked over to where Zafara was. In a flash she took off! “She’s running away!” Narth said pleased. “But why? Zafara something must be happening with her, come on!” With renewed vigour they dashed into the growing storm which now circled for about a mile, sand whipped and stinging blocked there vision. But they could sense Zafara’s over powering essence. Closer they drew, the weight of the spnix’s eather ever pressing on them, the knowledge that they would have to fight her, fight her with everything they had! A few feet, she was only a few feet in front of them, even though the sand blocked there vision, they could feel the malice coming from her. Then…gone, it was gone! The over powering eather, it was like she vanished! Suddenly on edge the group stood back to back, Sphinx’s don’t just disappear, she must have stealthed herself using the sand storm to stalk like a predator. “Easy, keep calm, leave no blind spots.” Suddenly, steps could be heard coming from the right, something was coming, slowly. Hiddan lunged! in a mere flash his blade was upon the target, and instantly it broke, viciously thrown back by a reflective spell shield he got up ready to fight to the death! “Jeremiah?” Holding Shari’s limp frame in his arms. The old prophet calmed the storm, if he was pleased it didn’t show, his face was that of pure and genuine remorse “Jeremiah, thank god where’s the sphinx?” Hiddan asked running up to him. “Gone, I made sure of that, not even a sphinx can fight a God speaker. But I’m afraid I have terrible news.” Jeremiah looked up clearly sadden. “My foresight has shown me we have a traitor among us, I didn’t know who so I said nothing at first, but I have had it for a long time. This proves my suspicion as to who it was . Shari…she’s been drugged.” “What? It was you wasn’t it Narth!” Hiddan unsheathed his blade, “The fuck is wrong with you I did no such thing!” Narth shouted back. “Enough! It was not Narth, why don’t we ask, Shari?” Jeremiah pulled from his sleeve a potion, to Joe’s horror it was the exact same antidote he had saved. The prophet poured it into Shari’s lips. It only took a minute before she began to stir, Jeremiah looked up at them, he sighed. “I was about to destroy the army when I felt Shari’s power suddenly dwindle, I came here as fast as I could to find her in a sphinx’s mouth, I managed to rescue her from the sphinx, but at a grave cost.” “What cost?” Narth said still glaring at Hiddan. “Wait for the child.” Shari eventually opened her eye’s, she sat up rubbing her head. “W-what? Oh…hello jeremiah, what’s happening?” Jeremiah knelt down to her level. “Shari.” He looked like he was on the verge of tears. “I… you were attacked by Zafara, I stopped her, but in the process I was unable to, at the same time defend Crystal dust from the invading army, Shari. Your village is gone, there are no survivors. I am sorry, forgive me.” The girls eye’s went wide, something with in her broke it’s pieces making an inaudible shatter. She said nothing, wide eye’d and frantic she suddenly took off running to the end of the large sand dune they were on. Jeremiah was right, below them Crystal dust, completely wiped out. Smashed to unrecognizable splinters, blood watered the parched ground, smoldering embers dotted ruined tents. Bodies, stained red lay where they fell, vacant eye’s staring coldly into the distance, bodies of people from every age from the old to the newly born. She ignored them, she dashed past them jumping over them like they were mere logs. She called out in her tribal tongue a word none could tell, but what must of meant, mother. In the center of the carnage Sharis’ steps stopped. She was standing above the remains of a shattered tent, the remains of unknown children lay partly buried in the smoldering wreckage. Hiddan dashed after her quickly catching up. He looked where she stared. “Your family.” Her breathing became quickened, as if her body was just now prepping itself to save them from this fate they had suffered. “Four siblings. And, my mother, my father.” Hiddan put a hand on her shoulder; she didn’t cry but her shock, it was apparent. Reality returned to her troubled mind suddenly, they were gone. So simple, so easy to understand, yet so hard to believe. “I don’t understand, I should of sensed it, I should of sensed them being attacked, how could I not have known? I don’t understand.” Her mumbles began to break down into sobs. “This can’t be, how did I not know? How? How?” “You were drugged, when the attack happened, you would not have sensed it. Some one in this group wanted you unable to react while the Vendezians destroyed Pia” Jeremiah stated coldly. Hiddan started back the group; he trembled fury swelling within him. “Who did it?” He said with murderous intent. “Who indeed.” Jeremiah stared straight at Joe, his smirk so subtle, only his intended target, his victim could tell. “So, why’d you do it Joe?”. Suddenly all eye’s were on him, including Shari’s.
While the others talked and Shari wept, Tsubael disappeared into one of the shattered, burned-out buildings. She already suspected she knew where this was going. As historian and chronicler, she missed very few details. She'd seen Joe share a drink with Shari, which was very out-of-character for a boy who'd been nothing but antagonistic to her since her arrival. And she'd seen Shari tumble from her Balu minutes later. Tsubael had thought nothing of it at the time, but now that there was talk of drugging… well, it was pretty obvious who'd done it… maybe a little too obvious. The question was 'why?' Tsubael had also seen the look on Joe's face when Zafara swooped down and snatched up the Godspeaker. His rage nearly equaled her own. She'd seen the way he fought valiantly to get the girl back. Those were not the actions and emotions of a man whose dastardly scheme was going according to plan. Yes, he'd drugged Shari, but this was not the desired outcome. Something else was going on… Tsubael tore apart the charred remains of a wardrobe and found something to wear. Her robes had been burned by the oracles' lightning attack, leaving her naked during the fight… or at least as naked as an automaton could be. Her bare metal had been on display and she was ashamed to say it wasn't in the best condition. When had she gotten so rusty and tarnished? She was beginning to feel like an old lady, like a woman who'd found her first gray hairs. She emerged from the burned-out home a minute later, and found Shari in tears and Jeremiah tossing around accusations. “Who indeed,” Jeremiah said. “So, why’d you do it Joe?” Well, that didn't take long, Tsubael thought while she awaited his response. The more she could learn about his intended plan, the better. She just hoped he didn't talk himself into a hole she couldn't dig him out of. There was a God speaker of judgment and a dozen killers standing around, waiting for one slip of the tongue.
Bibindoe growled, just resisitng the urge to howl when he saw the remnants of what had once been Shari's home. Now we are both the last of our people...The werewolf's head lowered and he padded to Shari's side, then stood over her sob-wracked body. His muzzle curled back in a savage snarl, but no sound came forth. If anyone was to come near her now, he would not hesitate to do damage. "I smelled the potion, but Zafara took Shari before I could speak of it. I hadn't remembered until now." he rattled.
"Shari, remember the last words I said to you, before you passed out, Bibindoe, I already told you why I did it, Jeremiah enlisted my services in order to get me to drug her, somehow he managed to steal my potion, I'm not going to bother to look, the only potion I'm going to find hidden in my robes is the sleeping potion you originally wanted me to give Shari, the one that would keep her and put her to sleep for twenty four hours, guys, the reason Leon's not here is because I sent him to spy on Jeremiah... he's probably dead now because this bastard killed him, I enlisted Samael's services to get him to tell me the second this bastard did something to Leon or the city but unfortunately he's been silent, Ishmael might be dead too, destroying the link between him and Samael, I'm not sure where Samael is now, I don't have any evidence to show that Jeremiah enlisted me, I can only say it was the day before we left to go to try to help Aly and her parents. I know that I may have differing views with Shari, but she's a good person, I would never cause her harm intentionally, nor the people of VenShara, I was going to help, I was going to donate part of my money to fund my expedition and then the rest would have gone toward recovery efforts from the drought, I don't care about being rich, or powerful, I was merely stupid and thought that I could do this all by myself, that I could play puppet master... but that's not my role, it's never my role, I should have learned that by now, everyone I'm so sorry, please forgive me for being so arrogant." I said, I bowed my head, and then I looked at Jeremiah, not with hate though, it was an analytic gaze, as though I were looking for a way to attack him.
"Lie's!" Jeremiah scoffed, He put a hand on Shari's shoulder. "Do not be deceived by his words of friendship, he hates you, but more then you he hates you God. Ask you self Shari, what is the best way to strike at the heart of Bahamut? the only way to cause him pain is to attack his prophet, it's clear that in your rage against Shari's mercy you concocted this scheme! And as for these, allegations you have no evidence what so ever. What a tale. what motive would I have to put Shari to sleep? to see her village destroyed? Ha!" Jeremiah faced the group, "It's clear to me who is guilty, Joe not only has a motive but he with out a doubt put Shari to sleep, he had the potion not I. I wasn't even here when it happened, and! I was the one who saved her from Zafara who i'm certain he may have been working with, it's obvious as day that Joe is the traitor. I also suspect he maybe working for the Vendezians." "How do you figure?" Hiddan mused. "His hatred for Vensharan culture, his pale skin, his gift with magic. Hmmm yes I think he is a spy, Shari needed to be asleep for the army to attack unhindered by her, hence why he put her to sleep. Someone tell me my theory is not reasonable?"
Bibindoe growled menacingly and quickly placed himself between Shari and Jeremiah. He was not going to let anyone near her now, no matter what. The God Speaker was currently incapacitated by her grief. He had to get her away, and soon. "Shari, get on my back." he hissed into the girl's ear, quiet enough that no one else could listen in. "Listen to me. We do not have time for this, and neither can we trust them. We must go to Pia and save those that we can -think of our villages. Please, just grab my mane and let us be off." However, Bibindoe's ear twitched when he heard Jeremiah speak of Zafara. Something wasn't right about this stranger. He spoke too easily -as if he was all powerful. As powerful as a God Speaker. "...and as for these, allegations you have no evidence what so ever. What a tale. what motive would I have to put Shari to sleep? to see her village destroyed? Ha!" Gritting his teeth in increasing anger, Bibindoe let loose a terrible roar that reverberated through the air. Battle Cry. YESSSS! Zebbenon crowed when his power flooded through the gates that Shari had slammed shut. Bibindoe's eyes flashed a brilliant gold from their usual blood-red, and the black wolf rose up over the God Speaker, muzzle curled and dripping blood as his fangs pulsed and grew into foot-long sabers. Ghostly black wings took shape behind him, and he crouched over the girl. A demon protecting an angel. His glowing eyes pulsed, and the Voice of Lost Souls that lay clasped to his lower jaw hummed, longing to let loose its terrible song. "I do not care who did it right now! Both of you BACK OFF!" he snarled, on the verge of losing all of his control. The Fallen was screeching for release, pounding against the walls of its cage. If Jeremiah had looked into Bibindoe's eyes right then, he would see not the soul of a mere tribal warrior, but the remnant of all evil. The werewolf wasn't blaming Joe.
"I may not be a pureblooded VenSharan, but VenShara is my home, I'd never do something this horrible for a land that I've never been to that my mother left, and I may think that Bahamut is a cruel deity, but I wouldn't allow Shari to suffer, she's a good person, she may be his prophet, but that doesn't mean that I would strike against her in order to attack Bahamut, who doesn't care about Shari, she's just his game piece, that's the way that I have viewed it fool, I may have been annoyed because of Shari's mercy but that isn't a motive to do something like this! Besides, if you said that I was a Venezian then I wouldn't even believe in Bahamut, my mother explained this to me, different religions fool, both of your arguments counter the other, if I were Venezian then I wouldn't believe in Bahamut as a deity, thus I would just think that Shari is just a very powerful mage and I would have instead just have outright killed her in order to strike fear into the hearts of everyone in this land, if I wanted to strike out against Bahamut, I wouldn't have targeted just Shari, I would have targeted you too, but look around Jeremiah, this supposed attack by me, only has affected Shari, not you." I said glaring at Jeremiah. "But... one more thing actually... you've incriminated yourself." I said crossing my arms. "You may not have had the potion to put her to sleep, but you had the one to wake her up, but here's something you didn't know, those potions are of my creation, the recipes only exist within this book, no other, you couldn't have possibly have read it either, it has a special enchantment on it that only allows the owner to open it and read its contents, only if you have permission from the owner of the book you cannot read it, meaning that potion that you used on Shari didn't exist through your creation, but through mine, my countermeasure to your plan." I said, holding up my grimoire, something that Jeremiah wouldn't ever have been able to take a look inside, to show them what I meant, I opened up the book and began flipping through the pages, they were all blank, then I waved my hand over a page and then neatly written words began flowing across the page, I shut the book and a little golden lock appeared on the book, it had happened every time that I had shut the book in the past. "Checkmate Jeremiah!" I said pointing at him.
Shari didn't ignore him on purpose, it's just in her mind a war raged, one that consumed her, she barley noticed him. Joe a traitor? her family..dead? Sorrow rocked her like a fragile leaf in a torrent, but beneath it something else began to grow, something sinister and red, something she desperately fought. Jeremiah chuckled. "I'm afraid your incorrect, how old are you Joe, 17? I am 500 years old! for all you know I owned a book like that once and even if I didn't, you don't think I know how to make an antidote? 500 years is a long time to study potions lad. I probably read a book like that a hundred times! My potion making skills far out strips yours." Jeremiah paused. "You are correct though the my allegations contradict, but I am merely...speculating not even I know everything, it could be either or. But enough the wolf is right I will end this now this proves it. Shari your foresight what does it do?" "It tells me when a negative thing is about to be caused by someone." She muttered half there. "Also, it tells me if someone is dishonest." "And what did you feel When Joe arrived?" She remained silent. "it felt like he was about to cause great evil didn't it? and when he spoke you sensed he was being dishonest" Shari nods. "And did you feel it from me?" "no..." "and has it ever been wrong?" "no..." She choked on the verge of tears again. "This combined with the fact you gave her the potion is prove enough!" Jeremiah crossed his arms smiling. Shari raised her head, she stared at Joe, she still seemed uncertain almost pleading. "I..I want to believe you, but."She hung her head, "How can I? given all this?" "Binidoe I know time is short, but if really really do have a traitor we must reveal him or he may turn on us again." Hiddan said calmly. "But I think We know who it is, all the evidenced is staked against Joe."
I looked at Jeremiah and... smiled, I began laughing. "Seriously...?! This is your damning evidence against me? A potion that only has one antidote that only I know and created? That you supposedly had this kind of book? So what if you had this kind of book before, that doesn't mean that you could access it, it doesn't change a thing, you haven't even proven that you are what you say you are! You may have been able to create an antidote but that doesn't mean that you could create the antidote for this one in advance without knowing I was using it, you're looking suspicious yourself just by the existence of that antidote, but I know you'll just use your presence and a few words to twist mine and the evidence around to make it look like it's all perfectly fine." I said. "I'm not saying that I don't have secrets or I've bore no ill will toward anyone, even Shari, but the worst I've wanted to do was slap some sense into her for her decisions ...Shari, I have been hiding something from you, all of you, I will tell you that, but it wasn't anything that would harm you, I truly did all of this because I believed it would be for the good of VenShara, I don't know how this guy is tricking your foresight, he told me he could when he recruited me for this task, still keeping the facade of a God Speaker, maybe he has the aid of a fallen or some powerful deity to trick you, but I swear on my life and my mother's life that I would never do anything to harm you or VenShara intentionally, as I told you before, you all are the closest things that I can even call 'friends', I wouldn't harm any of you intentionally, and I know that he'll just say 'he made two potions in an attempt to say that he was preparing for something' or something along those lines, but here's the one he wanted me to make." I said, I pulled out the second sleeping potion, the one Jeremiah wanted me to make and set it down on the ground and backed away from it. "I know that you'll all most likely take his side, he has all the evidence on his side and he's more credible than I am, for god knows whatever reason, sure I drugged Shari, I admit it, I never tried to hide the fact, but I've also been with you all for a while now, sticking my neck out to try and help you, if this man who just flew out on the back of a sphinx claiming to be a god speaker without a shred of evidence, who might I add was fully conscious the whole time, who could have stopped either army here at Crystal Dust or Pia with his oh so great god speaker powers, but didn't, is more credible than I am, I will accept whatever punishment you deem fit, but... if it's brought out by him or he's the one that suggests it, I won't put my fate in the hands of a man that I don't trust, let it be known I will resist to the very end, if it comes to that, please stay out of the way, because I won't let any of you get harmed because of my actions, I care about you all far too much to let that happen." I said, I held a determined and calm demeanor.
Judgment vs Mercy Jeremiah scoffed. "lie's all of them, and manipulation, your attempts to appeal to there hearts does not changed the fact that the evidence is against you. your sleeping potion wasn't that complex and you forget I am a God speaker, I too have foresight, mine is stronger then Shari's I sensed you might do something, it's not strange that that would lead me to an antidote. Regardless we are out of time, the army is at Pia's gates." Jeremiah addressed everyone one standing. "I care not what you think, even if you do not trust me, it is clear we can not trust Joe you all can think what ever you wish, but Shari and I have a job to do." Jeremiah looked at Shari endearingly, "Shari, mercy is all good but sometimes you need to deliver judgment. The army, and this..atheist have caused you great pain, regardless of his excuses your family is dead because of him, because of them." "What do I do?" Shari asked her self shaking her head, that thing inside her, what was it? it was growing, and fast. Jeremiah smiled, "Bring, judgment." Shari broke down in sobs again, she clutched her chest. What was it? it felt like, was it anger? no, rage? With every word that fell from Jeremiahs mouth it grew, larger like it fed off him. Like a cancer spread through her being slowly deliberate, consuming her. But something opposed it, something that was in her much longer since the day she was born. It was, mercy, it opposed the anger the rage, fought against it with everything it had. But, it was losing, it's soft light slowly drowned by furious red. Mercy vs judgment, That's what she was feeling, As if the two were made manifest and struggled with in her, trying to gain control, but...wasn't she mercy? wouldn't that mean? She was the one losing? ...... "Shari has completely spaced out, she, must be in so much shock. I never seen anyone take it so hard." Hiddan looked between Joe and Jeremiah, he sighed. "Joe, I don't hate you, but...the evidence is stacked against you. I'm sorry, but I believe even if Jeremiah is untrust worthy, you, are definitely guilty." Hiddan asked everyone present. " What about you guys, what do you think?"
“Shari, this is not your burden to bear,” Tsubael said with just a hint of compassion in her eyes. But all compassion vanished when her cold blue gaze shifted to Jeremiah. “Was it not you who told this one there exist two God speakers for a reason?” she said to him. “You are the God speaker of judgment. Shari is the God speaker of mercy. One should not seek to corrupt the other. The real question is who judges the judge?” She crossed her arms and stepped between Joe and ‘the judge.’ If he wanted to harm the boy, he’d have to go through her first. And, if Tsubael was able to prove her point, she wouldn’t be the only one standing in his way. Jreemiah was not to be trusted. His arrival was too convenient. And Zafara's departure was... questionable, at best. There was no question: the sphinx was alive. Despite what he claimed, Jeremiah hadn't lifted a finger against her. “Joe is guilty,” Tsubael said simply. “He has already confessed his crime. However, he is not the only one with evidence stacked against him. There are two defendants present.” She pointed to Jeremiah. “This one saw Joe battle valiantly when Zafara took Shari. This one saw the anguish on his face. This one witnessed the poisoning, but has failed to witness the alleged malicious intent. There is ample evidence that Joe administered a sleeping potion; however, there is no evidence of Joe's malicious intent... and no evidence of Jeremiah's alleged heroism. “Though he speaks much, Joe has failed to mention this most damning piece of evidence,” Tsubael said as she began to pace in a small circle. “A God speaker’s power is immense. A sphinx’s power is immense. A battle between a God speaker and a sphinx would be sensed even by those who know nothing of magical power. Jeremiah claims to have defeated the mighty Zafara and saved Shari from an awful fate. This one remains unconvinced.” She stopped pacing and looked Jeremiah in the eyes. “Fact: this one did not sense the full power of a God speaker, nor the full power of a sphinx. Logical conclusion: Jeremiah and Zafara did not battle. Jeremiah did not take Shari by force… she was given to him. Why would Zafara, whose evil is the stuff of legends, gently carry a girl in her jaws? One bite could have ended it all, but no. She did not kill the sleeping God speaker because she was ordered to deliver said God speaker to this man.”
Szmierc's began slowly walking towards the oracles, ignoring the noise behind him. His smile was maniacal and his eyes wide with madness. "O oracles, o prophets, o speakers of wisdom, tell me one thing." Szmierc disappeared with a pop, reappearing to tower over the fallen figure. Shadows dripped from him as the portal shriveled out of existence, leaving behind a foul smell and faint screeches. "What will ever happen to you?" "We will join Zafara in her glorious rise to power, even if you kill us we will have done our part," they said with no small measure of defiance. "Even if I kill you? Oh come on now..." Szmierc chuckled as he knelt down. He caressed the oracle's cheek before rapping his claws around her throat and lifting her off the ground. "There is no if. There is only after, and this after has no more of you. How will you ever join your little god once you're no longer here?" "We will be with her in spirit!" the oracles cried proudly. "Oh you'll certainly be somewhere in spirit..." The land beneath his feet began to grow dark. The screeching returned, growing ever so slightly stronger as shadows began flailing out of the darkness, coursing through Szmierc's veins and clawing at the oracle's dangling feet. The oracle's skin began to stretch and tear and a ghostly haze began oozing out as her very essence was slowly pulled from her body. "...but it certainly won't be with Zafara." All of a sudden, her body ruptured and was sucked into the portal, leaving only splatters of blood behind. Szmierc's crimson coated face turned to the second oracle. "The creatures of the shadows call, and they're still hungry. Come forth, you faithful fool." He pulled the second oracle up by her throat, hoisting her up like he had the first. "Come be sacrifice to the nether realm." "What the hell are you?!" She said frightfully, surely a demon, how was it that a ferral could cast such spells? "A demon, you are a demon!" "Not a demon, no." Szmierc tightened his grip and tilted his head, watching the oracle squirm. "Just a friend." A sickening ripping sound rang out as the second oracle's soul was torn asunder. With a final howl, the void beneath Szmierc's feet disappeared, leaving the smiling ferral, painted in two coats of blood.
Bibindoe looked down at Shari, and the Fallen screeched in outrage as his power was locked away once more. The wings vanished, his form returned to that of an ordinary human, and the man crouched over Shari, cradling her against him. "Remember when you gave me mercy when I otherwise deserved to die? Shari, we all do shameful, and otherwise horrid things, but it must be Bahamut who passes judgement, not you, unless you know it is his will. Joe and Jeremiah will both be judged when the time comes." Then he looked up at Jeremiah. "Joe is young, unlike you. He could easily have been manipulated by one of your spells or by your words. I will do nothing unless Shari tells me to, for my life now belongs to her, but I have a spell that can rend a man's sanity to pieces by showing him his greatest fear. I can use it to get truthful answers out of the both of you, then put you back together, and we will have our answer." "Shari, please, you must listen to me. I killed my own tribe, controlled by a Fallen. You pain is one of outrage, not of guilt, but I believe it is still the same pain, for we have both lost all that we held dear. Please, answer me."
Corrupted Jeremiah composed him self "Tusbeal, your simply wrong. And your putting words in my mouth, I never said I fought the sphinx, I merely said I rescued Shari, Zafara attacked Shari while she was unable to fight back because doing other wise would have ended in her doom. You are wrong! Sphinx's are strong, God speakers are stronger, far stronger. the minute that old cat saw me she ran." Tusbeal was smart, she could see his argument beginning to crack, they just needed to push a little more. But so could Jeremiah, and he still had the power. Jeremiah tapped his staff on the ground. All of them suddenly began to sink into the sand, roots wrapped around their mouths, gagging them. "Enough of your lie's!" With his accusers silent her turned his attention back to manipulating the grieving Shari. She was caressing a small hand trapped with in the rubble, she dare not uncover it lest she find the disfigured remains of a dear loved one. She was close he could tell, close to the tipping point,she just needed a little nudge, just a little more and his plan would be realized. Jeremiah struggled to keep his excitement under control. "I don't need to be faultless, I just need to get her over the edge." he muttered kneeling to her level, the final push. ............. Inner turmoil It was growing, for a moment it stopped, Tusbeals voice did that, and Bindoes. Their kind words battling back the darkness. but now those voices were silent now. It was growing again, beneath the rushing waves of sorrow pure anguish. "Arguing back and forth...points, counter points, it doesn't matter. There dead, everyone I love is dead. Nothing they say changes this." That wasn't the worst of it, The one thought that dominated her mind more then the sorrow of loosing her family, was the sudden uncertainty in what she thought was truth. Bahamut, had he abandoned her? Why didn't he protect her loved ones? Why was she asking that!? She should know better! no it couldn't be...she the God speaker was doubting him, God? "What if...Joe is right? What if Bahamut is not there, or is cruel. What possible reason would he have to take away everyone I loved? had I not served him faithfully?!" "What of Suzan, what had she done to deserve all of her grief, it was so easy to judge her, but now I know how it feels. I would do anything to see my family again, If I a Godspeaker feel this way, what of a normal human? It isn't fair!" The rage and sorrow was now joined with guilt. "What kind of God speaker are you? you would doubt Bahamut so? who do you think you are? Bahamut is perfect, and with out fault!" She scolded her self with faked strength, but it was soon replaced with fear and uncertainty. "Then what did I do wrong, is it my fault? is he punishing me? No he's not like that he's merciful...then, why! Why! is he doing this to me!" She was lost, confused in her anguish, in her doubt and grief. With the others subdued, and silenced Jeremiah took hold of Shari who was still trapped in her eternal struggle, he pulled her close like a mother would a child. Like a serpent he began to whisper. "You did nothing wrong Shari, it is they that are wrong, they are the ones bringing your misfortune." his voice echoed with in her, strengthening the red cloud that was slowly consuming her soul. "Ten years, I was so close, so damn close to seeing them." "Take your vengeance." "My little brothers all of them... Tolen, Shoro, Kale, little Coni" "Gone, taken away by sinful men." "I couldn't protect them, I can protect and save strangers, I couldn't protect my own family." "The price you pay for living you life for others!" " My father, my mother so kind and loving.What do I do now?" "Destroy, bring judgment. Avenge there deaths" "How can I forgive them? Joe, Jeremiah, the vendezians? how do I even know who's truthful?" "You can't, nor should you." "Bahamut give me a sign." "this is his sign, I am here to guide you. Punish them Shari!" "I need a friend." " Friend? Joe drugged you and got your family killed. Shea always wants you dead! Aly only wanted to use you, to save her own family. Tusbeal is a machine there only to record history, she cannot be your friend. Binidoe is an insane fallen demon, Ishmeal and Kyra abandoned you for their own selfish goals when you no longer benefited them. Suzan wanted to kill you. Every person, every "friend" you have ever had just wanted to use you Shari, you think they would do so much for you if you were powerless, if you couldn't make their wishes come true? You have no friends, you never did! they may claim it, but they are driven by love for your abilities, not love for you. "... leave me alone..." "At every turn you have and are being used! you spend your life caring for others to the point of death and what does it get you? Your family DEAD!" "go away!" "They don't even respect your judgement, did you know Joe, Kyra, and Ishmeal were planning to kill the king you spared? and they did, they fucking did! you are nothing to them, just a tool! and if you don't serve there purpose they turn against you, conspire against your back!" "...." "bring judgment. on Joe, on everyone." " I can't" "why not?" "He is a friend." Jeremiah chuckled. "No, it's because you like him, more then a friend. And you don't know how to handle such emotions." "Shut up." Poor, poor Shari stuck on a mountain for 10 years, alone, how are you to know how to handle such feelings? But now you see how the real world is Shari, now you see what humanity is really like. How hurtful they are, how deceitful, how cold, Joe does not share your confused feelings, he doesn't even trust you to stay conscious. none of them care, not one. " "..." "You know if you had destroyed Joe earlier your family would still be alive ,take vengeance." "go away Jeremiah." "Bring judgment!" "I can't trust you! anymore then he trusts me" Shari yelled, "leave me alone Jeremiah!"The sky exploded in flashes of lightning. Jeremiah was thrown back landing on his back rejected. The look she gave him. So hateful, so raged filled. he smiled, albeit with a hint of fear. "As you wish Shari, heh heh, I will leave you to your own devices." he stepped out of her way and folded his hands. Something came over Shari , it drowned out the light in her heart, and blackened her mind. Rage and hate consumed her and with an enraged scream the land was set ablaze. the skies exploded with lightning, and Shari the prophet of mercy became something else. "You failed to stop me Talith, judgment is here. The prophet of vengeance, has been born." ...... Prophet of vengeance destroyed by sorrow and rage Shari was...terrifying, were she stepped the earth melted and and the air steamed, her eye's were blood shot and when she screamed it ripped through the air. A living Armageddon, her eye's fell on Joe. He was suddenly pushed down by a massive force of wind, he looked up, Shari her tear's now turning to steam stood over him with a murderous intent. "It your fault! My family would be alive if it weren't for you!" She raised her hand and lightning fell from the sky consuming her hand a mad god standing over a lowly mortal. "You idiot! did you really think I would allow Pia to be destroyed!? After doing so much to save it? Why didn't you just, speak to me, I asked what was wrong you could of told me if Jeremiah was really planning against me, we could have avoided all this . I would of listened to you, because I trust you Joe! Why can't you do the same?!" Jeremiah was smiling, but was still fearful, he stepped back surprised by her violent power. "yes Shari, punish him! that is Bahamuts will." "Shut up! Your next! And don't talk about Bahamuts will." She roared, Jeremiah. "looks like that's my cue to go." he muttered. Her eye's fell back down on Joe, "I, loved you." She sneered and lightning fell down coursing through her hand. "I hate you, I hate you, I hate you, I hate you I hate you I hate you, I HATE YOU!" She raised her hand. "My god..." Hiddan looked on stunned. "She's going to kill him, she's completely lost control." Hiddan stepped forward, "Wait Shari, I know it hurts but, your about to make a huge mistake! Can't you see, Jeremiah is manipulating you!" a flash! Hiddan was instantly destroyed. nothing was left but the blackened earth where the lightning struck. Her powers were spiraling out of control, and nature reflected this in a chaotic fury. the roots that covered their mouths burnt away. But the land imitated her rage, lashing out randomly at anything that moved. "What about me? What about my happiness? Why do I always suffer?! Am I not deserving of any sliver of joy? I should of never left that mountain, I should have never left my family, I could of had a normal life, I could be with my mother right now! I could of seen my siblings grow up, my god, all my friends gone! all this has gotten me is grief." She put her foot on his chest, and cried out. "Give me one good reason why I should forgive you! When you have caused me so much pain!" The extent at which her powers had went out of control became apparent, when her own arm began to sizzle and burn. her own power, was slowly destroying her. I looked up at Shari. "...I can't think of a single one Shari, you have not a single reason to have you spare my life. Because of my arrogance, your family is dead, I may have listened to that snake Jeremiah, but I didn't trust him, I thought I could do everything myself. I made three potions, the one he gave me from that book, the ones that I created myself, one to put you to sleep and the other to awaken you, I had my brother spy on Jeremiah and send up signals to show me what to do, I enlisted Samael to give me his eyes and ears in Pia so then I could wake you up the second I needed to. But I didn't do what I should have done before, trust you all, my arrogance blinded me. But Shari, your power is destroying your own body right now, I don't love you as a lover would love one another, but I love you as a friend would love another. Revenge will leave you feeling empty and hollow, but... if this is what you must do, then do it, I don't want you to harm yourself more than you already have because of this anger, this sadness that I brought upon you." I said, my voice completely calm, not a shred of fear in my eyes, only determination, I didn't want Shari to destroy herself because of my mistake. Her breathing became labored, she hesitated, glaring at him. her fist relaxed, then clenched again, the relaxed as her emotions seesawed between love and hate. "You, You, Damn it!" She screamed and, and then panting, she turned to the direction of the enemy army. She charged them. blasting across the sky turning the black clouds a redish hue. Jeremiah seemed disappointed, but at the dark clouds formed above he smiled. "It has been a pleasure, thank you for your services, everyone I could not have done it with out you." with that Jeremiah too flew off. Suddenly they were alone, Shari was gone, Jeremiah was gone. just them and natures chaos. "We should stay here." Narth sat down breathing a sigh of relief. We don't want to be anywhere near her. ........ The spectacle could be seen form miles around, a mini catastrophe danced in the distance, and it was growing. "Oh no, I think we are too late." A lone figure said looking on surrounded by four others. They were all hooded a precaution against the blasting sand. "perhaps it's not too far gone, if we hurry there is a chance!" "lets hope your little friend found that fairy in time." The cloaked group dashed towards the chaos.
Trust me? “What a storm, I have never seen red clouds before.” A worried soldier looked up in awe as a violent red and black clouds swept across the sky sinking the land into twilight. Lit by flashes of furious lightning, it stretched for miles and was growing, larger. “It’s just a storm, we will attack Pia regardless, get back to your positions!” Yakim yelled, and the hordes aligned them selfs against the walls of Pia. Their numbers so massive they stretched for miles. Raising their hands, eather swarmed their fingers coursing and ebbing creating a beautiful glow that lit up the darkness. Misven stood ready, her dark eye’s cold and calculating, Pia as it seemed was sorely unprepared. The guards now scrambling atop the wall were fewer than expected and as it seemed, were caught off guard. “This would be a slaughter. She could feel it, so many innocents, soon dead.” She thought of the little girl they had captured, small petite with a void expression orphaned and alone. Just like her, now she would do the same to others. The thought sickened her at first but faded as she turned off her feelings, allowing her inner killer to slowly take over. “You know, you don’t have to do this.” It was that old Fey again, the one they had captured. Misven sneered as he came up beside her putting her hand on her shoulder. “You can leave now, and be clean from this sin.” He said tenderly. “Silence winged one. They would kill me if I deserted them now.” “But you would die in bravery and with a clear conscious.” “I can’t die, not here I have things I must do in this life first.” “Like find your parents?” Misven hissed, bearing her blade like teeth. The old fey just gave her a knowing look. She glared at him then glared at the ground embarrassed. He had caught her, in a rare moment of weakness a few nights ago. Caught her, angrily sobbing, it was a rare event, but when it happens Misven did well to hide it. This man somehow had found her. “Shut it, you’re a prisoner remember? I can kill you and no one would flinch.” The fey nodded looking down at the chains on his hands. “I sense there is good in you yet.” Misven ignored him turning her attention back to the wall, the final spells of the army slowly being completed. “You remind me of my daughter, like you she is angry, like you she is in grief, like you she is looking for her father.” Misven remained silent. “Ready your weaves!” Yakim yelled, the spells began to shutter with pent up energy. “I sense her, she’s close, and like you she’ll do anything to rescue me.” “Aim!” Yakim pointed his hand forward, his weave larger than the rest and glowing a fiery red. “her name is Aly, you could be sisters. Stubborn to the core, defying all the odds.” Misven shook her head. “Your wrong old man, I am nothing like this Aly that is foolish enough to track this army. She wishes to find her father in order to save him.” Misven smiled. “I wish to find mine, in order to destroy him.” The fey seemed a little surprised; it was only now that Misven met his gaze, looking over her shoulder. “I hope you see her again, but I wouldn’t count on it. Now stay back, or you’ll get caught in the cross fire.” “You care for my safety, then I was right about you, Siren of vendezian.” “FIRE!” A fierce rumble shook the wall a spells rained against it, any eather protecting the rock wore away like sand in the wind, the wall cracked and slowly began to crumble. “With Pia’s end, VenShara will have no choice but to surrender.” David said to himself, relieved. “Finally, the blood shed can stop.” A frantic scream followed a chorus of anguished cry’s which sounded more like shrieks suddenly filled the air startling the army whipping them around. A dark god, it was the only way to describe her, a living Apocalypse. She stretched out her hand, and all the hellish fury of the sky loosed them self’s on the armies flanks, fire and lightning crashing down, raining fury and explosive death! With each hand wave another disaster ripped through their ranks, thousands of men roasting, burning alive dyeing in droves. All who were not dyeing stood stunned, black eather coursed around the frightful girl and the red clouds grew darker, dimming the light throwing them into what felt like a living hell. With red hot fires filling the land scape and white lightning jumping through the inky sky, it took Yakim a full 30 seconds before he could, still in slight shock yell. “Target the mage, attack!” All spells were thrown towards her! She screamed furiously spinning her staff, summoning a nightmarish tornado and slamming it into their spell fire, deflecting the assault then driving it’s self into the neatly packed army picking up helpless many, flinging them to their deaths, splatting them like bugs. Shari fell her landing causing a large section of land to split in two with a thunderous CRACK! Swallowing more than a hundred men. She charged towards Yakim her eye’s locked on him! Her face twisted in rage. Yakim stepped forward weaving and casting Pyroclasm! The ground beneath the mad prophet exploded in fire eather! It roared up ward launching even some of his own men back ward. The eather dissipated leaving a large crater, Shari cloths where nearly burnt off, but she was unscathed. And her hatred grew even stronger. She stretched out her hand, and fire poured out of it in what could only be described as a Massive tidal wave of heat. Before the old fey could react Misven blasting him with a mass of merc eather, carrying him out of range of the attack of the engulfing fire that swallowed the three of them. “Go! Find your daughter!” She commanded. The three, David, Yakim and Misven all weaved eather shields that barely with stood the flood of Charon and fire. “So…powerful what, is she?” David said horrified as Shari grew closer, this time the soldiers close to her seemed to collapse do to some rapid plague. And admits the screams Shari spoke. “YOU!” he voice boomed rocking both sky and earth. Her finger pointed at Yakim “You took everything from me! I’ll kill you, no, I’ll destroy you!” David, Yakim and Misven stood their ground summoning their weaves, Shari’s power didn’t matter, they were the three most killed mages in new Toren, and she was one girl, blinded by rage. They would not let stop them now, not when they were so close. The two sides took their stances, three of the most powerful mages, vs one god speaker. ….. They were at a loss, Tusbeal, Narth, everyone could only stand their gazing at the distant chaos. “So much death. Is this really Shari?” Narth said shaking his head. Joe stared on, what had he done? And though they all defended him from Jeremiahs accusations they all knew he was partly to blame. Now Shari was out of control, and all of venshara seemd to rock with her anger. But one question still bothered them. Why? Why did Jeremiah go through all the trouble to enrage Shari? What was his plan? There seemed to be no real goal, Pia looked like it very well maybe destroyed by Shari in her wrathful state, so why? “Brother is sad.” They looked behind him, and jumped back in surprise. It couldn’t be… A woman, her hair now cut, armour tattered and torn, her brown eye’s bagged from stress, her right shoulder slightly disfigured, barring an ugly scar. It was Suzan, She stood before them looking grim staring at were Shari had been. “I, I was too late.” She shook her head. “Have faith Bahamut will see us through.” An old man gave Suzan a comforting pat on the back, Jakem! Back to his kind wise self. There was another with them, stranger but he had yet to reveal himself, still clocked he played catch with an arrow seemingly bored. Finally there was spring roll and even more surprising, she was holding Hiddan in her arms. “I can’t believe you guys are back!” Hiddan exclaimed. “I can’t believe your still alive! Unfortunately.” Narth said amazed. “Hiddan was in trouble, big sister saved him, brought him under ground, gave him to me.” Spring roll stated, her body covered in new stiches that criss crossed her face. “Yes well can you put me down now?” “Sister didn’t say I could so, Spring roll cannot do that, Spring roll will hold you.” “no really I insist. I’m not in any da-” “Spring roll will hold Hiddan, even if Spring roll has to break Hiddans legs to do it.” “……” Suzan put her hand of the girls shoulder, “You can drop him now Rolly.” Suzan looked towards the carnage, obviously saddened “Ooof I said put me down not drop me!” “Sister didn’t say put you down sister said-“ “Oh never mind.” Hiddan got up, and gave Suzan a suspicious look. “Jeremiah, he’s almost done it. Maybe if we can move fast enough, quick, someone tell me how long Shari has been in this state?!” “Don’t you think you owe us an explanation Suzan? I mean how can we trust you? Just popping out of no where and-“ “We don’t have time! I can help stop Jeremiah but I need all of your help I’ll explain everything after I promise, I know, I know I’m un trust worthy but I have a plan, so please.” Hey eye’s fell on out of all of them Tusbeal. “Trust me.”
I looked over at the four that now stood there, disbelief in my eyes, but soon it changed to my usual calm demeanor, I rose to my feet after retrieving my grimoire, I placed my hand on my hip. "...If you're planning on going into that hell with the intent of stopping this, even saving Shari, that's good enough for me, if this is your way of trying to redeeming yourself, I don't care. I only care about fixing this tragedy that I brought upon everyone." I asked, I hoped that the others wouldn't be troublesome, I knew what Suzan had done to so many people, but, I knew that was her heart had dictated her to do, it wasn't out of malice, or hatred, but love for her family, I didn't agree with what she had done, and she was far from earning forgiveness, or even mercy in my eyes, but this would be a huge step in the correct direction. "She's been like this for a few minutes, whatever you have planned we have to do it now, tell us what to do." I said.
Shae’s Redemption She had not joined the others. She could not bear the shame she had brought to herself, to harm such an honest and beautiful creature such as Shari and so she stayed. What was next though, Shae did not know. The gods of death had always guided her but now, as she prayed in the darkened back alleys of Pia, they were silent. Maybe she had displeased them. Her mission had always been to kill the God Speaker but perhaps that is not what they wanted. Perhaps her teacher was the one that had led her astray. Kneeling in the cool water with hands clamped together in prayer, she let a single tear drop from her face and sadden the surrounding pools. Oh how she wished they would send her a sign. Please, speak to me she begged inside. They were listening. Through the light of dawn a horn sounded, once, twice, a third time. The ominous blows shuddered through her, echoing into her soul. Pia was under attack. This was her chance for redemption. This was a cause as noble as they came; to defend the innocent and lay her life on the line, for those that would be fearful. For those that would surely die without her. Immediately she fled the alleyways and burst into the main streets of Pia, glistening in the humble glow of the waking sun. Treading through the sparkling waters she headed for the large gates, gazing up at the omen of red sky that filled the horizon. Blood would be spilled today. Sliding to a watery halt at the gate, she spotted a trio of guards desperately trying to blockade it. “Where is our army?” She snapped impatiently. The largest of the three turned, his eyes wide and his brow furrowed under his helmet. He was slightly taken aback by her appearance; dents and blood marks in her armour and cuts on her skin, with a gaping wound over her left eye. “The army? You’re looking at it.” His voice faltered, exhausted from doing the work of hundreds. “Everybody’s gone. Since the King was exposed, most have thrown down their arms.” “But not you?” She asked. “Aye, not us.” He nodded to the other two soldiers, still hard at work to block the gate. “I’ll not see Pia fall and neither will they. We would rather die than see our homes, families, livelihoods burned away from existence.” Her cold demeanour instantly softened. These were true warriors not tempted by fear and greed; the only thing that brought them satisfaction was doing their duty, all in the name of Pia. “I must know your names.” She demanded quietly. “I am Horgus.” The large one said, stroking his bushy black beard. “The skinny one is Damien and the one lifting the wooden bolt is Fey.” “I will pray for you Horgus, Damien and Fey.” She bowed to them and then stared Horgus dead in the eyes. “But now you must let me through.” “Are you mad!?” He said. But again he inspected her blades and attire, and quickly suppressed his surprise. “I-I mean, I can’t open the gate. It would take fair too long to open and close, the bastards out there would get straight through.” “Well, how do I get to the other side then?” She crossed her arms at them and narrowed her eyes, until the skinny one had to look away. After a long pause and a lot of beard pulling from Horgus, Fey stepped towards her, his muscular physique brushing past the larger man. “I have an idea. But you’ll need this.” He said handing her an Eather potion. * * * The Exzalian Army prepared themselves for the laughable defeat of Pia, watching the city to see no troops around to defend it. In fact they hadn’t seen a single person leave the place, just the slow oozing of water underneath the city gates. Some of the thicker troops had coined it as a con; that this was not the real city of Pia but a decoy built only to delay their advance. The leading commanders had simply bashed them over the head for their stupidity. But then one of the scouts spotted something. Atop of the main gate they could see a trio of soldiers readying a catapult and aiming it for the left flank. Jeers and sniggers turned to stern silence as the threat became real and each soldier stood tensely to attention. “What about the other catapults?” One of the commanders asked with a confused look on his face. None of the other catapults on the city walls were manned, only the main one above the gate. “This has to be some kind of trick, surely?” The Pia soldiers working the catapult stood away from the contraption, gave a salute, and then pulled the trigger. A heavy groan of wood ached through the sands and the whole thing lifted off the ground as the arm flew into the air. The Exzalian army flinched as a boulder launched itself from the arm, thundering through the warming red skies. But as it hurtled towards them they slowly realised that it wasn’t a boulder, it wasn’t even stone in fact. It was a woman. In a flash of emerald and brown she flew, her leather armour a blur in the air and just as she was about to land she swigged down the Eather potion. Instead of falling cruelly to her death Shae softly bounced on the sand and glided across the golden dust, instantly twirling her blades into the stunned Exzalian army. Blood sprayed across the ground, steel clashed with screeching cries and the soldiers turned into their own flank to stop her. They stared at her menacingly, forcing their polearms at her but she danced around them, ducking and weaving her way in for the kill. She relished every moment her blades bit into flesh, the speed of her attacks like a hot knife through butter. A crackle of thunder boomed above them and Shae froze. Red and black skies descended upon them all and she watched around her as lightning struck the soldiers, their skin bubbling like the plague, their bodies exploding in a bath of blood leaving nothing but crimson bone on the sands. The stench was revolting, trapped in a mass grave with thousands of dead around her and she heaved a few times as the overpowering taste of copper became too much to bear. Falling to her knees in the sand she vomited, shaking all over in a cold sweat. And then Shae gazed up in horror and saw her. Shari. But it wasn’t her. It couldn’t be. This mangled heretic floated madly with arms outstretched, her jet black hair wild in the tornado winds and her once beautiful eyes now terrifying and dark, empty like the voids of hell. Suddenly Shari fell to the ground with tremendous force, breaking the earth below her and sending a splintering crack towards Shae. The Death Walker scrambled on her hands and knees through her own sick to try and escape, but the earth fell away below her and she just managed to grab hold of the edge – barely – clamping her eyes shut to not see the gaping darkness below. However, as quickly as the earth had split the walls flooded back towards each other, ready to cut Shae in two. Her fingers were slipping from the edge. She couldn’t get enough grip. Kicking her legs she pushed herself up, rolling onto the sand just as the ground crashed back together with a bone shattering crunch, catching many a soldier in its stone jaws. The chorus of bodies snapping shivered through her spine. But she didn’t have time to breath though, turning her attention to Shari, the wrathful prophet now facing off against three incredible Eather mages. They were preparing to fight. Shae had to stop it now. Without missing a beat she sped towards them, pushing through the torrent winds and searing blazes that now lit the sands. Lightning danced around her as she tried to get closer, flashing down inches away from her and a nasty end. One of the mages was preparing to cast but Shae dived between them all, dropping both her weapons into the sand and putting her hand up to each side. “Enough!” Her scream echoed above the chaos surrounding them. “Look around you! Look at what you have caused! What you have ALL caused!” She could feel Shari’s anger washing over her, the tornado winds buffeting her as she tried to speak. “I have come – unarmed – to put a stop to this madness! Will you strike me down too!?”
Suzan didn't bother to stop while explaining, she ran towards the carnage while she explained, her voice was labored and she had to yell over the cracking earth and screams of the dying. “Jeremiah is a mind mage! He’ can influence the thoughts of his victims!” “You mean Shari is under his control?!” Hiddan stumbled from the violent shaking of the earth. “Not yet but soon!” “What do you mean?” “Even for a master mage, it’s hard to take over another person mind, their will. there are only two ways to do it! One, Weave a very powerful mental spell and cast it on the target. Mind control is a literal spell that can be cast on someone from a very powerful mage, but even that is too difficult for most, as the amount of eather needed is so high. Instead, most mind magic revolves around subtle manipulation, slowly tricking the targets mind into giving in, thus slowly over powering their will.” They approached the chaos they covered their noses at the stench of burning flesh, bloody iron hung in the air mixed with charcoal. It was a slaughter, body lay strewn everywhere, the landscape broken and bloodied. “That’s what's happening to Shari.” Hiddans eyes grew wide. “He’s slowly taking over the God speaker? My god, if he gets complete control…” Suzan looked down almost ashamed. “Jeremiah’s mind magic only works if the targets mind is in a state of chaos, he needed Shari to feel deep hatred and sorrow before he could begin taking it over. He also needed the anger to not be directed at him so he could concentrate safely, that’s why he framed it on the army, and Joe. And that’s not all. He’ inflames emotions, making them stronger than rational. That's one of his powers, to take ones sorrow and grief and make it a hundred times worse." Suzan put her hand to her chess as if simply speaking it caused her pain. "Imagine losing your entire Family, but at ten times the grief, that’s why Shari is out of control. And it’s all my fault.” In the distance, Shari come into view, she held a soldier in her grasp, ready to destroy him. Suzan stopped running and looked around frantically. “What now Suzan?!” Suzan turned to the robot.“We need to shock her out of her anguish. Tusbeal, calm Shari down as much you can, you have to divert her emotions away from anger. Aly, Binidoe go find Shari’s mother she’s here in the army!” “Surely she’s dead!” Narth protested. “Dead or alive it doesn't matter!” “What?!” Hiddan yelled angrily, “you haven't changed at all!” Suzan glared at him. “We need to shock Shari out of her state, we can free her from Jeremiah mental manipulation but only if she feels an emotion stronger than hatred or sorrow. Like...love. Find her mother, she should be with the prisoners, find her. If she is alive, show her to Shari, if not...bring her to me. Joe, me and you are going after Jeremiah, he’s powerful, but if we can at least distract him his mental manipulation will get weaker. ” She turned to the mad feral currently chewing on, er someone. “Eh...You...be your self. You all have your orders now hurry!” "But where is he!?" Joe said with great embitterment. Suzan smiled, "He's hiding, but we'll know soon. Suzan raised her hand and fired a bolt of fire. Another bolt of fire shot up to the right of them.Joe recognized it, Leons signal! "That way!" They split up dodging the blast and lightning, Joe and Suzan charged towards the signal. There Leon sat waiting, before them Jeremiah stood by himself, muttering something to him self. Suzan gripped her ax, "remember the pain, feel the hatred, bring judgment."
